Severe Benefit Delays and Council Losing Post

indelacio

So I have been in a long struggle, where birmingham city council witheld housing benefits for 9+ months, where despite sending in proofs they lost them, despite taking in proofs and them stating it was "just in time" it still took them a further 5+ months before they made any payment, in that time myself and the housing association made 3 fresh claims and constant attempts to get this into payment, my home was reposessed in january 2012 prior to them making payment in part on february 2012

I have spent the last 3-4 years attempting to resolve the situation, both arguing with the council and applying for new housing, they've stated that all benefits should have been paid without proofs and offered a measly £250 for me losing my home and all of my posessions the suicide attempts and stress which I've refused and they've made no effort to put right getting me back to birmingham.

On top of this I've sent in housing applications and attempted to contact in every way the council and mp's to get back onto the housing register, and they've "lost" post even sent via recorded delivery because they lose post so often it's ridiculous, and even with recorded delivery they claim to have never received it! They only then accept an application the very month I fall outside of the criteria of having "local connections to birmingham" from having lived the past 3 out of 5 years in birmingham, or 6 out of 12 past months stayed in birmingham, they ignore blood relatives in birmingham and the special circumstances that I'd lived my entire adult life in birmingham and was only forced out as they made me homeless and requried me to be on a stable position to receive replies to housing applications rather than a friends sofa.

Are there any lawyers I can go to in order to resolve this issue, I've got ICE LGO and other complaints in at the top levels and it was accepted into the dwp inquiry through parliament, but this doesn't put my situation right and I'm still stuck in the middle of nowhere suffering.

Also I have this petition petition.parliament.uk/petitions/104712 which would be much appreciated to be signed also, as if they lose so much post it has to be more than just me, and I've seen in newspapers many other stories of similar things, and going through this myself I don't think others should suffer either without compensation for an adequate level to suffering while the council ignore things on the majority untouchable.

cifpower

Birmingham City Council is in a mess. The leader, Albert Bore, has more or less been forced to resign. The government has given it a deadline to improve or face consequences such as being broken up or commissioners being sent in to run it.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Have you tried a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman?

tomtontom

Having had my housing benefits witheld 9 months leading to losing my home and it being all over the news about similar stories, the government should pay those affected due compensation for loss of home, possessions and distress caused for length of term without permanent similar home in location

More details
£100,000 plus £10,000 per month until the very same council that withheld their benefits rehomes them in a similar home in the same location should be paid for anyone who has had their benefits witheld for 3 months or longer and resulted in an eviction where the noted reason is non payment of rent. Especially when every effort has been made to get benefits paid and to be rehomed by the council and ignored of fobbed off by them constantly causing further distress and damages.

Your compensation expectations may be a little optimistic.

emmsie123

You state that all benefits should have been paid without proofs, this is never the case unless receiving income related benefits
What income did you have at the time?